As part of its programming commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence, the History Channel recently unveiled a new 20-part documentary series on World War II. The immense project will be narrated by Tom Hanks and premiere on Memorial Day.
While the History Channel has produced and aired plenty of World War II documentaries in the past, this new series will “reexamine the war through the lens of a new century” and “capture the full arc of the war — from the rise of fascism in Europe to the fall of Berlin, from Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima, and the uneasy peace that follows.”
Hanks explained why the documentary series was so important in a statement to Hearst Networks.
“During my formative years, every single adult in my life would make references to two words: The War,” Hanks said. “The lasting effects of WWII on the world and my own family were not lost on me. I am thrilled to partner with the History Channel to produce this all-encompassing series with a long form format that will give us the ability to tell this important piece of history in its entirety.”
Hanks famously starred in Saving Private Ryan, the epic 1998 film remembered most for its hyper-realistic depiction of D-Day in the opening scene. Hanks also played the role of a U.S. Navy commander hunting Nazi U-boats in the 2020 film Greyhound and served as the executive producer for Band of Brothers (2001) about the men of the 101st Airborne Division and The Pacific (2010), which chronicled the story of U.S. Marines in the fight against Imperial Japan.
A synopsis for the documentary explained that the series will explore “the human cost of total war, including the Holocaust, civilian resistance, and life on the home fronts, while also revealing the hidden wars of espionage, codebreaking, and industrial might that shaped the outcome of the conflict,” according to the Hollywood Reporter. The documentary will touch on the actions of pivotal wartime leaders, including “Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Erwin Rommel, Joseph Stalin, Hideki Tojo, and Adolf Hitler.”
The History Channel recently released a trailer for the documentary showing Hanks speaking over meticulously restored footage from World War II. In the trailer, Hanks calls the war “the largest event in human history.”
The first three episodes of the documentary will release on May 25. A+E Global Media holds the worldwide distribution rights to the show and explained in a statement that the series is “part of the HISTORY Honors 250 campaign.”
“Leading up to the landmark 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in July 2026, The HISTORY Channel is marking this historic milestone with HISTORY Honors 250, a dynamic, multiplatform initiative spanning nearly two years. The epic commemoration includes long-form and short-form programming, digital and social content, custom partnerships, premium events, and more,” A+E Global Media stated.
Alan Jamison is the pen name of a political writer with extensive experience writing for several notable politicians and news outlets.
They could have at least got a patriotic veteran to narrate instead of a far left-winger.
Why in the world would they get a left-wing nut job to narrate this – just because he starred in one World War II movie? Actually, I know why – because – woke Hollywood. Gary Sinese would have been the far better choice because he actually cares about veterans and has proven it through his actions. What has Woke Hanks done? Absolutely nothing.
Not happy about them choosing a woke, unpatriotic liberal to narrate this. Tom Hanks might be OK narrating a special on mermaids or retarded people, but not this nations’ history…
lets hope WOKE HOLLYWOOD , DOESN’T SLANT THIS AS THE USA AS THE BAD GUYS , LIKE FAKE NEWS MAKES US OUT TO BE .
If only they can stick with the FACTS, without twisting, spinning, and distorting anything. So many global and local lefties try to ‘re-write’ history because it doesn’ fit their aganda, or if it makes America look good.
But is it rewriting History? It sounds like it. Afterwards you have 20/20 vision and things should have been done differently. We are in that position right now. The dems and our “allies” want an exit strategy for Iran Why should we reveal that. Biden retreated out of Afghanistan and he didn’t have to reveal that plan. After the debacle not one leader or general was called to account. But now since they passed the buck all these years about Iran and Trump is bombing it to smithereens they want to know so how are you going to exit. Instead of offering their expertise or plans. Oh that’s right they don’t have any. Only destroying Trump and America. This documentary will be pro Hitler and against America. The civil war history has been rewritten. President Lincoln has been vilified along with our founding fathers. And history books have been rewritten, statues have been taken down. And the white race has been declared as unnecessary because the colored built America. Interesting scenario. They proposed this to keep their base happy to allow anything and everything to happen to the white race. This divisions is all in line with the destruction of America. And Iran was helping them with that. To destroy Israel and America and have their sheep vote for them forever. Will they reach this goal? Not if we the majority in this country stop them. Their globalization of America has to stop. And this operation in Iran shows how far the dems have come to reach that end. Destroy everything that makes sense. They don’t want a flourishing economy they want to control the masses by making them poor and dependent on the govt. but if no one is working who is paying for that? Sanders thinks the billionaires. Mamdani thinks the upper middle class. Only they move away. Hochul was already begging for them to come back. The democrats are grasping at straws and running around like a chicken with their heads cut off by closing the govt. smart move only it doesn’t work democrats, communist, extreme leftists. Give it up. Or your base will come after you with a vengeance.
Nope. I’ll find another special celebrating our 250th. Will never watch one more thing with POS Hanks in it.
Lest we forget….and sadly the woke wimps want to cancel American history, and replace it with critical race theory.
Hanks said. “The lasting effects of WWII on the world and my own family were not lost on me.”
Really Tom? You’re an America Hater. You having anything to do with an American history show is offensive to people like my Grand Father who fought and survive Peral Harbor and the war in the Pacific!
They probably chose Hanks because he is cheap. He has been caught in lies like the sea captain. We need to see if they “change” history.
Having Tom Hanks as the narrator is an insult to every God loving American.
Will Hanks tell the COMPLETE truth or emphasize a few mistakes by the US? Ken Burns has always slanted his documentaries. And if it is any way connected to PBS, it will be BIASED!
Yeah, I’ll reserve judgment. Don’t trust History Channel or Hanks not to revise the history to fit communist/fascist/jihadist DemocRat propaganda.
Hope it’s nothing like that jerk Ken Burns. His “documentaries” on the Civil War, Baseball, Vietnam, were nothing but diatribes that claimed racist in all the wars. I would never look at anything he wrote.
I don’t trust The History Channel, nor Tom Hanks to give a non-biased accounting of WW2. I won’t be watching.
The History Channel can save a lot of money by rebroadcasting the BBC series “The World at War,” and “Victory at Sea.” Both were comprehensive and made prior to Woke propaganda.
I am skeptical about this production. With Tom Hanks as narrator, is this whole series going to be a left-leaning version of history? Will it be a platform for liberal Hollywood’s propaganda? With his leftist beliefs, he doesn’t deserve the opportunity to narrate a documentary about American courage, valor and sacrifice. If this production stays true to history, without injections of woke liberalism, then he may once again show what a good “actor” he is.
epstein peso boi doing the audio? no thanks.
Nope. No. I won’t watch it. Hanks too much in far left cloud cookoo land. I won’t watch anything fictional with him in it, much less something like “history” from his perspective.
As a non-traditional student in college, I was taught in Modern American History that the United States caused the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor because we cut off Japan’s oil supply they were using to conquer China. This philosophy was called “Deconstructing History” then. I believe it is called “being woke” now.
BIG MISTAKE USING AMERICA HATING tom hanks!!!
I agree a military veteran should have been chosen. Tom Hanks is so far LEFT NUT JOB. I will watch it but I totally disagree that Tom Hanks was picked.
Gary Sinise would have been a better choice for narration. He has a proven track record of supporting the U.S. and the military. Hanks is a leftist whose allegiance to America is questionable at best. Remember, he threatened to move to Greece if Trump became president. And then there is the Epstein association. But Hollywood protects it’s own.And the History Channel is still Hollywood, after all. (How is Ancient Aliens history?)
With people like Tom Hanks involved, it’ll somehow be slanted to explain how the whole war was actually our fault.
I’m glad to see things starting to happen…..we should be celebrating even now…I don’t believe other countries have seen the freedoms we have had for so very long nor survived economical, financial and political times as America has. God Blessed America and we just forgot to thank Him. I’m doing that now. Thank you God for our country and for the spirit in which it was founded. Thank you for loving us even though we don’t deserve it at times….right now to be exact. Thank you for the freedoms and liberties you gave us and may we NOT allow those to be taken away by movements, trends, or behaviors which aren’t worthy of you. Thank you for your Son who Easter celebrates as the Savior of mankind. In His name.
peDo not peo boi – mea culpa
2 bad doc story cant use voices from WW2 from other docustories alone can Help
A lot of great comments here! Very glad to see that!
This is truly exciting, to get such a detailed documentary of World War II. I was born in 1945, just months after the end of this war, and am looking forward to seeing this documentary.
Jury’s out, Let’s have another article after we get a chance to see this,
Thanks for the information. Will definitely watch this documentary!
I will not be here to see this, but Tom Hanks must have a lot of knowledge as many movies as he has done. It should be authentic in it’s portrayal.
If this program simply pushes the holocaust myth and the America and England were innocent victims of aggression myth without any questioning or examination, then this is not actually history but merely more propaganda like all the other propaganda shoved down our throats over the past eighty years – but called “history.”